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Winter 2016 Illuminations and Festivals

Areas of Nagano prefecture are getting ready for a series of festivals in February, and in that spirit I thought I would put together a list of current and upcoming events for the Winter season. Tear yourself away from the ski resorts for a night and visit some of Nagano’s other scenic spots!

Current Festivals

Kakeyu's illuminated Godai bridge is a sight from another place and time.

Kakeyu Onsen is a hot spring resort area near Ueda city. According to legend, it was discovered by a hunter who chased a wounded deer through the woods, eventually finding it bathing in a natural spring before hopping away completely healed. Since then it has been a place of healing and relaxation for humans as well.

Until January 31st, Kakeyu Onsen is holding its ice lantern festival in scenic areas around town. If you have a chance, stop by and take a dip in one of its many healing springs and enjoy a leisurely walk among its dreamy, lantern-lit lanes. It can be reached by bus from Ueda station on the Kakeyu line.

Date:

Friday, December 25th to Sunday, January 31st

Time:

16:30 to 21:00 (Or until lights go out)

Nearest Station:

Ueda Station

Yamanouchi Lantern

Yamanouchi's lanterns and art installations decorate its many onsen baths and hotels.

Yamanouchi’s Kaede-dori street has come alive this winter with glowing lanterns and artworks!

As part of the installation, participating hotels and shops are hosting gallery shows, and some stores are offering special winter treats like hot apple cider and sweet onsen manju. If the lanterns and treats don’t warm you up, take a dip in one Yudanaka’s several foot baths!

Date:

Friday, December 11th to Monday, March 21st, 2016

Time:

16:00 to 20:00

Nearest Station:

Yudanaka Station (Nagano Dentetsu line)

Kiso Ice Lantern Festival

The Ice Lantern Festival is a great way to experience the Kiso Valley's traditional post towns.

Kiso’s many post-towns are decorating their historical streets with delicate ice lanterns and celebrating the winter season. Drinks and soups will be made available to keep you warm as you enjoy the peaceful scenery. This is a great way to experience Kiso’s beautiful nature and post-towns! For more information about Kiso’s post-towns, see this previous entry on the Nakasendo, as well as our killer contents page.

Upcoming Festivals

New Year's decorations are burned to pray for wellness and health in the New Year.

Kashimayari ski resort is having a fire festival of its own this Saturday. Lanterns will illuminate the path to the event space, where a series of fire performances will take place, including torch-wielding skiers, the “Onbe” bonfire and closing fireworks.

This will also be the first day of their illumination nighter, so you’ll be able to ski after the event until 21:30!

Main Event

Date:

Saturday, January 30th

Time:

17:00 to 20:00

Nearest Station:

Yanaba Station (Oito line)

Illumination Nighter

Date:

January 30th to February 15th, 2016

Time:

18:00 to 21:30

Shiraito Icicle Illumination

Shiraito Falls during the Icicle Illumination.

Karuizawa’s picturesque Shiraito falls freeze in winter and make an excellent canvas for a light show! The romantic display is on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from February 5th to March 14th, so bring that special someone along for a date night. Why not finish with dinner at one of Karuizawa’s many gourmet restaurants?

It can be reached from Karuizawa station via the Kusatsu Kotsu Local bus. Get on from North Exit #2 platform and get off at the Shiraito Highland way stop (about 20 mins).

Nagano’s lantern festival is a large-scale event with almost all of Zenkoji and Zenkoji- dori lit up with lights and hand-crafted lanterns. Enjoy unique designs by school children and artists alike as you walk up towards the temple, whose many buildings are lit up in a rainbow of color. Several other events will be held during the week of the lantern festival as well, making this a great time to hang out in Nagano city!

Main Event

Date:

Saturday, February 6th to Sunday, February 14th

Time:

18:00 to 21:00 (last day until 20:00)

Nearest Station:

JR Nagano Station, Gondo Station, Zenkojishita Station

Opening Ceremony

The Nagano lantern festival was created in memory of the Nagano Winter Olympic Games. This year, participants from the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games will carry out a torch-lighting ceremony. The Snowlets, mascots from Nagano’s Olympics, will make a guest appearance.

Date:

Saturday, February 6th

Time:

17:30 to 18:00

Nearest Station:

Gondo Station, JR Nagano Station

Nagano Sake Festival

Enjoy tasting local Nagano sake and seasonal food from the Hokuriku area! Held at Patio Daimon next to the Daimon intersection on the way to Zenkoji.

The lake Suwa area is illuminated with over 20,000 hand-made ice candles for one day in winter. Ice sculptures and objects decorate Namiki-dori, and there will be plenty of food stalls and performances to keep you happy and entertained. Visitors should get off at Kamisuwa station to be closest to the action.

Iiyama city is on the northern tip of Nagano and has some of the heaviest snowfall in the prefecture. To make the snow less burdensome and more fun, they use it to build sculptures and kamakura igloos. Each year the event grows in size and popularity, and these days musical performances and fireworks accompany the event.

Last year, Iiyama added a new aspect to their snow festival: world-record breaking! They set a new world record for the number of three-tiered snowmen they could build in one hour: 1585 snowmen with 630 people. What snow-related record will they try to break next?